Pakistan's batting stalwart, Babar Azam, puts his recent success across formats down to prudent changes made to his mindset and having a clearer idea about his game for different versions of the game.
Babar, Pakistan's go-to guy in the two white-ball formats from the time of his debut, has been batting on a different level since scoring his maiden Test century in November, 2018, with his record only improving in red-ball cricket with each game and him becoming an even better batsman in ODIs and T20Is.
Read Also: ICC to hold a CEC meeting on April 23 to discuss rescheduling postponed series
"Mostly I worked on my mindset (for further improvement), the way I go about my game and also when I am not playing. I used to become complacent easily if I performed well. I used to have a negative thought process and that's the area I realised I had to cover," Babar told ESPNcricinfo.
"Apart from playing and training, there are elements outside the game as well that needs to be addressed, you need to control them to have a better grip on the game."
"The more I am in control, the better I can drive my innings. Now, a good performance doesn't make me happy, instead I push myself to go further and try to expand my game," he added.
Babar being put on a high pedestal by everyone, where he is compared with the likes of Virat Kohli and other batting giants across the globe, hasn't thankfully had an adverse effect; in fact, those expectations have imbibed in him a greater urge to perform for Pakistan every time he walks out to bat.
Since that first Test hundred against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, he is averaging 64.35 in the format, with that sky-rocketing up to 102.50 from five outings, including four centuries, if games from only the last 12 months are accounted.
That, coinciding with his ODI average and strike-rate going up from 51.92 and 84.38 respectively to 58.57 and 92.20. In T20Is, even though his average has gone down slightly from 56.56 to 46.58, the strike rate has improved quite significantly from 125 to 134.
"I have stopped thinking that my work is done if I perform, even if the team loses the game," he said. "I don't want to prove anything to anyone, what I am doing, how I am playing and how big is my role. It's easy to perform, go back, and be happy."
"But now I have told myself that whatever I do is for the team, and that is more relevant and important. My work isn't done if I score runs," Babar added. "If you perform in a win, it actually makes you happier inside. It took time, but I sat and spoke to positive people, started asking questions, and answers that have helped my conscience."
Batting the best he has ever done, it must be really disappointing for Babar how the sport has been put on hold indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's really difficult to live without playing cricket for me," he said. "I had a set routine and I was all into it with daily practice, hitting the gym, fielding, training and fitness, and now there's so much uncertainty."
"Gym training is helping me stay fit, that's something I can do from home. But if the break goes on, it can make me rusty, but I can't forget your basics."
"You must believe in yourself, the hard work I had put in to become a good batsman. You have to have confidence in yourself. It might take some time to regain the rhythm, but the base is there, and inshallah I will be the same Babar Azam you saw a few weeks ago," Babar added.
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
